Book-rest and manuscript-holder



(No Model.)

G. G. KOEHL. BOOK BEST AND MANUSCRIPT HOLDER.

Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

ATTORNEYS. I

INVENTOR 1604/ Y M I I g E 5 WITNESSES W .zi m

Nv PETERS, Plwloulho m hcn Wlshingion. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orr-Ice.

CHARLES ,C. KOEHL, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

BOOK REST AND MANUSCRIPT-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,683, dated December 26, 1882,

Application filed June 2, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, .OHARLEs G. KonHL, of Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Book-Rest and llIanuscript-Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device for holding books or papers and forforminga reading-mark and eyeprotector.

The invention consists in a plate provided with springs for holding abook,and with acortain attached to asuitablerolleror shaft, which curtain is used tocover that part of the book or sheet that has been read, and thus forms a hook-mark and an eye-protector.

The invention also consists in certain details ofconstruction,hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figurel isa perspective view ofmy improved hook-rest and reading-mark. Fig. 2 is afront elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe same,showingita-ttached to a standard. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the binding-screw socket on the back of the book-rest,showingthe position of the screw when locking the supportingframe in position. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. showing the position of the screw when looking the bookrest to the upper transverse rod or arm o t a standard.

The plate A, madeof wood, metal, pasteboard, or any other suitable material, is provided at its lower edge with two clamping-springs, B, for holding the lower edge of a book or sheet. At the upper end it is provided with one or more side-clamping springs, U, for holding the side edges of a book or sheet. The plate A is provided near its upper end and on its rear side with ajaw, D, at each longitudinal edge, and in thesejaws a transverse shaft or roller, E, is journaled, which is provided with a knob or button, F, on one projecting end. A cur- (No model.)

tain, G, is attached to this roller or shaft and passes under a rod, H, held parallel with the upper edge of the plate A, a short distance above the same, and over a rod, I, held above the rod H and outside of the plane of the upper or front surface of the plate A--that is, the rod I is diagonally above and in front of the rod H. The free end of the curtainis attached to a weighted transverse rod, J. This plate A is provided onits rear side with an internallythreaded tubular projection, K, into which a binding-screw, L, is screwed- This tubular projection is provided with two transverse horizontal apertures, 00 1), near the inner and outer ends of the projection, respectively.

A supporting-frame, M, is hinged to the back of the plate A, and the upper cross-piece of this supporting-frame passes through the inner aperture, a. A U-shaped spring-clamp, N, into which one of theyshanks ot' the frame M passes when it is folded against the back of the plate A,serves tolock this frameM against the back of the plate. The supporting-frame M can be placed at any desired inclination to the hack of the plate. A and be locked in the.

desired position by the binding-screw L, which presses against the upper cross-piece of the frame M, as shown in Fig. 5.

It the plate A is to be secured to the horizontal arm 0 of a standard, P, the bindingscrewL is unscrewed sufficiently to permit the arm 0 to be passed through the outer transverse aperture, b, andthe plate A islocked on this arm at the desired inclination by means of the binding-screw L, which presses against this arm 0, as shown in Fig. 6. The curtainG is drawn over those parts of thebook thathave been read, and thus forms a reading-mark and an eye-protector, for a person can immediately find the last line that has been read. as those lines that have been read are successively covered by drawing down the curtain. This relieves the nervous system and avoids undue straining of the eyes. and saves time in finding the last line read. This is of great convenience, especially fororators, lecturers, compositors, and others-who must frequently refer to notes during their discourse.

By turning 1 the shaft or roller E by means of the button F ICO to be entirely out of sight from the frontof the plate. In the same manner as the plate is fastened to the arm 0 of the standard P it can be attached to any other like rod or arm.

The book-rest can be easily adjusted in any desired position, as may be required, and can be made more or less ornamental. It not used as a hook-rest, it can be used as an easel for holding pictures, cards, &c.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent--- 1. In a book-rest, the combination, with the plate A, of the shaft or roller E and the curtain Gr, attached to this shaft or roller, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES C. KOEHL.

Witnesses:

J OEL SWINDELLs, PETER HoWDnN. 

